Group 1-Patty, Andrew W, Andrew S, Joe, Nathan, Arianna, Sean, Sarah

SARAH SPECTOR-Hi Vicki and congrats on your new position. My host district number is 4690 for Rotary Club Amboro. I am recieving my monthly stipend and am still with my first host club. Actually I think I stay with this family for the entire year, but I am a little confused on that point. I really wish we switched families here, because I know I would like to switch after chirstmas, but I do not want to hurt my host families feelings or create a problem. I really like my host dad and sister, but My host mom is a little much for me to handle. I have been using all of my adaption skills and I know that if I can't switch families I will survive and be fine, but I would definitly prefer to switch families. But other then the uncomfortableness I feel around my host mom I am really doing great. My spanish has improved a ton, although I am still not great at speaking but I can communicate and have lots of Bolivian friends that do not speak english either. I even see Estaban about everyday at school and sometimes we hang out out side of school aswell. We went on a weekend trip with rotary about a week ago to two Jesuit missions, San Javier and Concepcion. I really enjoyed the trip and it was nice to see other parts of Bolivia, especially to see how other people live. Well I hope everything is well with you! Sarah. P.S. I don't mind if you share this, but just as long as not to any of the in bounds since Jose Videza is my host brother and I don't want him to think I dislike his family. thank you, and thanks for everything.
SEAN HENSON-
Hey Vicky,
Just thought I'd let you know, everything is going great! I love Germany, and I'm having the time of my life. My host club here is very good, and is always willing to do whatever they can to help me have a good year. They make sure that I recieve my monthly stipend on the first of every month, and have taken me out to do things such as amusement parks, Ice hockey games etc.. I go to the Rotary meetings every Monday. I am still with my first host family, and they are way better than I ever could have hoped for.. I wish I didn't have to change =) I feel like its my home... I don't really have any problems that I can't deal with... School is... school.. but I am doing everything I can, and meeting lots of new people.. Last week, my Class did an "exchange" with a school in Poland... So we went there for 7 days, and Got to travel all around, go to school there for one day (Which we actually missed, because the Polish kids challenged the German kids to a Soccer game... and that took up the few hours we were supposed to be in a class.. =) but the teachers knew so it was all good), We went to 5 different cities including Warsaw (and the Hard Rock Cafe!) Anyway.. point of the story.. Schools deffinately getting so much better than it was at first..
I'll put all my information below...

Talk to you later,
Sean Henson

Email: sdhhenson@yahoo.com
Host District Number: 1800 (Germany)

PS: Im glad to hear that you are the Outbound Coordinator.. Its good that it is someone we already know and trust and can talk to.. =)
ARIANNA FIORITA- Hola Vicki, this is my e-mail adress and my host district number in Santiago, Chile is district 4340. Yes, I have been recieving my monthly allowance. I am with my first host family now and they are wonderful, and treat me like their own daughter. I am very fortunate to have a family like them. I have had no problems at all since I have arrived in Chile. I have been to one rotary meeting since I have been here and everyone was very nice, and the food at the meeting was delicious! My counselor here is also very involved with all of us and is always concerned with our well being. Yes, at first I did not like going to school but now it's a lot better because it has given me an opportunity to meet many good friends. Nothing else here really bothers me that I can think of. I have already been to a beach a few times with my host family, and again last weekend with the Rotary Club. I ran in a marathon with my host brother and host dad and some of their family friends in Vina del Mar along the sea. It was quite an experience considering I DONT RUN!! but it was definetly something to remember and I felt good after the race. I also may run another in December! I am really enjoying my time here so far, and I want to thank district 6650 for sending me to Chile, and all the work that was put into my trip here. It is greatly appreciated. Also, congratulations Vicki on being appointed at Outbound Chair :) Take Care, Ariana Fiorita
NATHAN WILLIAMS-Hello, This is Nathan WIlliams and I am in Santiago, Chile, district number 4340. I have been recieving my monthly allowance and it is around $75. I am still with my first host family and I will probably be with them until the end of December. For the most part everything has been great...though I have had some slight problems..but not enough to make me want to move right away. I love the host rotary club though, as I believe with all of Chile, they are NEVER on time. It is kind of frustrating for me becasue I always arrive on time for things and everything always starts super late The only thing that the club has been worried about me with is I have lost, as of now, around pounds. I lost the first 22-25 within the first 2 and a half weeks. They were worried that I may be super homesick or just having terrible problems at home. Vicki, you hit it right on the nose the thing that bothers me...school! I absolutley hate going, especially when it is over 2 hours longer than our classes in the states and it doesnt serve me for anything. The thing that I like is that summer is coming so it is getting super hot. Im glad to be here because you folks in Ohio are quicky approching winter :P so I am very content where I am.
UPDATE about his weight-Yea I am healthy...I feel great. I think what it was is that my last week before coming my family and friends were taking me out to eat like everyday..plus I was a bored eater haha. The food here is a lot healthier and I do a lot more than I was doing the last few months. Also, I have not been to a gym so I have lost a lot of muscle. I am fine though...I feel a lot healthier than I did in the states. As of now I have lost about 30. I should be fine when I get back into a gym.JOE BOBBY-monthly money is getting too me.still with first host family and they are greatonly problem is the languge and everyweek it gets a bit betteri belive my host rotary club is the coollest in the region there are so many freindly helpful people.school is ok the firzt trip was too a beutiful canyon aand it was amazing the entire trip was so relaxing. (as if brasil could et any more relaxed) and congrats on the outbound thing
ANDREW SNYDER-In the two months that I’ve been here in Brazil, I’ve experienced more than I having the proceeding 18 years of my life. Whether it may be a food experience or a bad experience they all are impacting me in a great way, to make me a better person when I go back to the United States. I have nothing but enjoyed my last two months here and I can’t wait to see what else Brazil has in store for me. Each day I wake up with a new adventure ahead of me, and that only been made possible because of Rotary.
When I got to Brazil, I was warmly welcomed from my 36 hour voyage by my first and second host family. Living with the Schoeppings has been nothing but a blessing. I think it is very helpful that there is a child in my house. I feel very comfortable around him and actually I probably learned most of my Portuguese from him because I can talk with him the most not in fear of speaking wrong. We play games, watch movies and hang out together. I’ve never had a brother and its going to be hard to leave him. I also appreciate Louise very much because she put up with me for the first two or three weeks when all I did was walk around and say, “Eu não entendi”. I know how frustrating it was for me and I’m sure she felt the same frustrations. Finally, Felipe really takes a lot of time to explain things to me, although it is in English I feel I have a better understanding of the local are because of all the history he shares with me. I also feel lucky because Felipe takes me around to see other cities, the country, poor villages and ECT. When I talk with the other exchange student who only get to see from their houses to CCAA, I feel they are being denied of the exact things they came here for. I feel I know my second host family pretty well so I think that will help with the transition between houses. I know I will be torn because I won’t want to leave but I know its all part of the exchange. I would really like to start to communicate with my third host family. I don’t know their contact information and I don’t want to hurt my families feeling. Asking them for it might make then think I am ready to move.
School here in Brazil is very different than it is in the United States. Here it seems like learning is optional, the teachers don’t demand you attention. During class kids here talk, are playing games, on cell phones, have laptops out, are sleeping, or just sitting there and the teachers don’t care, then just teach to those who listen. Also, what strikes my odd is how after a rest you just leave the class and go down to the “Jiffy” until the next class. I am still having a hard time understanding how the class rooms work. I usually just follow my friends, I feel like I’m tied to a string. I have made lots of friends at TUPY but I find they want to speak English with me, I have to ask them to speak in Portuguese. The good thing is it is becoming easier to talk to them in Portuguese than it is in English now, so I must be getting better. For the first two weeks I didn’t have to go to school and they drug on for so long. As soon as I started school my time began to fly.
I have a really ruff time seeing the poverty here, I think mostly because I was not exposed to that in the United States. My host family took me to Joinville South and we drove through a neighborhood that really gave me a new outlook on life. I saw houses the size of my room and children as little as 7 or 8 picking up trash to recycle for money. The kids in the neighborhood had a kite to play with and there were 6 children all holding the string together while they played with it. That night I got home and called my mom because I felt such weight on my shoulders that I need to tell someone to let the weight off. Still when I walk past people on the street in central my heart begins to race. I want to give them money but I know it won’t help.
As for the exchangeract, I think that its great that all the exchange student are coming together and want to help by forming a club but to be quite honest, I don’t feel like we are doing anything to help. I’ve got 10 hours invested already and we have done nothing for the community. Hopefully soon we will have some projects or otherwise it will have been a complete waste of a year.
I really like how John Guy and Andrew Padach are in my district because at all the district functions I get to see two people from my town. It’s nice to talk to people from Salem who are experiencing and missing the same things. We can be talking about something and we don’t have to explain because they know Salem and the events, location of things and ECT. It’s hard to explain but it’s like a little escape to Ohio when were together.
One thing I’m still not used to is locking everything! In the United States I didn’t even have a key to my house; here I have 5 keys to get into my house. Also, with the car door I don’t know why but my brain just won’t process it to lock it first. In the staes I leave my car windows down with the doors unlocked and the keys in ignition. There are a million other things that I do here that I didn’t do there and I don’t even know why, like we always wear sandals in the house. After we use everything we unplug it from the wall. My host family walks around while they brush their teeth. If you go shopping you cant go into the store or someone comes up and helps you to shop, this is something I enjoy to do by myself. Also, here we eat with a fork and knife and always drink for a cup.
I’m currently facing my first really hard time with homesickness. Before I didn’t really miss anything from home I just wanted the food back. But this past Wednesday my grandfather passed away and its very hard to grieve a loss without your family. I know I have people all around me but I still feel alone. I really would have liked to go home but it’s really early in my exchange and it would one make it harder for me in the long run. My family is with me in spirit but it doesn’t seem like enough. I hope these feelings pass soon, and I can get back to my exchange.
ANDREW WILSON-hello vicki.this is andrew wilson reporting to you from italia. everything here is going wonderful. i have not gotten my monthly stipend yet and should have it for two months now. im not sure how much it is but anything will help here.. my rotary is verygood....i think. we have had only one dinner, no overnighters ofcourse(only in district 6650) haha. my italian is coming along quite well and everybody is more than happy to help me with anything i need. well i hope to hear from you soon. ciao!!Andrew Wilson
PATTY RHODES-Hey Newly Appointed Outbound Chair! That's great to hear, I think you have a good understanding of what it's like to be an exchange student, so I'm glad it was you who they chose and not some crazy person. Well okay, maybe you fit that description too :) You asked in the facebook message if any of us are planning to go out again next year through Rotary Exchange. I'm 16, a junior in high school, and when I come back next August, I will be 17, a senior. I want to finish my senior year, and then I thought about going to a different country, again through the Rotary, after I graduate. So not leave again next year, but in August of 2010. By then I will be 18, and I heard that things are different for students who will be 18 while they're on exchange? I don't know if it's still possible, and I'm not sure it's what I want to do, but maybe you can help me with that a bit. Let me know if you think it's a good idea, etc. My host district number is 1580 Noord-Holland. I have been getting a monthly allowance of 100 euro, which is great! I'm with my first host family, and I move to my second family in January (we haven't set a date yet). No real problems with this family, but it has been INCREDIBLY difficult to fit in and adjust to their life style. I still haven't figured out a good way of living here. I've asked advice from a million different people, and still my discomfort isn't settled. I've talked to my immediate counselors, my district counselor, my host parents, my real parents, and friends who know me really well. It's not that my host family are bad or mean people, or that they've done anything wrong. I just can't seem to fit in, and it's very stressful for me. Other than that, everything is amazing! I've made a million friends, school's great! The language is coming along, but literally everyone speaks English really well. So I need to lay off that crutch and start speaking more Dutch. I understand mostly everything, and when I read things I always understand. It's just the speaking back part that's difficult.Another thing I find difficult is that Holland is really close-net. Like, both the fathers of my 2 host families are Rotarians of my host Rotary club, my counselor is of the same Rotary club, and so everyone talks to each other a lot, so if I have a problem (like what I brought up with my counselors about being uncomfortable in the family) then people try to reason with me by saying "Ted and Bea are lovely people, the family is lovely, we've known them for years! Just give it another shot, I'm sure you'll fit in in no time." But still, nothing has changed, and I've kept a positive attitude throughout everything! I've tried everything I know how to do to accommodate and nothing seems to work for me. Okay you get the point. But my Rotary club is very nice, also very strict I think. No real problems though. Something cool, hmm... well I'm going to Germany this weekend. It's our "herfst vakantie", so I'm going with the Rotary, but not the other exchange students. I love all the exchange students in Holland! We all get along so well. I still like how we did things in 6650 better though. They have no training here for the potential outbounds, and so they don't get to meet all the inbounds like we did! I had so much fun getting to know the Belgians, the French, the Brazilians, etc.! I think it would be great for you to show this to the rest of the Outbounds! Maybe they're having some of the same problems, and I'm so curious as to what they're up to. Groetjes van Patty